Tycoon gets a bargain at Oaklands Junction

Owner-breeders Peter and Susan Scollard had done their homework when they bought a mare in foal to Written Tycoon at the 2009 Inglis Great Southern Sale in Melbourne.

The Tasmanian couple were at Oaklands Junction the day Written Tycoon sold for $625,000.  The G2 STC Todman Slipper Stakes winner had already been at stud for two years when a disagreement within the syndicate saw him offered for sale again.

“Later that afternoon, we were having a coffee and saw Jayelcee being offered in foal to Written Tycoon,” Peter Scollard recalled.  “I don’t think anyone was paying attention.  The sire had just sold for $625K and Susan put her hand up and we got the mare for $2,250.”

Fast forward to June 2013 and the Scollards were at Devonport to cheer that Written Tycoon – Jayelcee filly to victory in the Simons Design Centre Plate (1000m).

Now named Wanaea, the Mark Ganderton-trained filly was very impressive on debut.  “We kept a share and ‘Gandy’ syndicated the rest to his clients,” Scollard explained on Sunday.  “There’s plenty of scope for her to keep improving and hopefully she can go through the classes.”

Wanaea (3f Written Tycoon – Jayelcee by Monde Bleu) settled fourth behind the speed before Stephen Maskiell eased off the fence to improve entering the home straight.  She quickly burst to the lead and went on to score by almost three lengths from Victorian visitor Shrizzle.

Written Tycoon will stand his first-season at Woodside Park for a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee this year.  He was Australia’s Champion first-season sire in 2010-11 and has kept up the good work with 64 winners of 154 races in his first three crops.

There have been 12 stakes performers among that total including Howmuchdoyouloveme, a last-start winner of the LR Lightning Stakes at Eagle Farm and Grand Tycoon, who will be named Tasmania’s Champion 2YO for 2012-13.

– Karl Patterson